Welcome to e-Connections, the weekly AFS email newsletter. In this Feb. 17, 2009, edition:
Network Like Never Before with the New AFS, MODERN CASTING and MetalcastingDesign.com Social Network Websites
Ready to join the premiere metalcasting social network? Looking for colleagues, networking opportunities and metalcasting specific information? AFS, MODERN CASTING and MetalcastingDesign.com invite you to join the online community that makes all of this possible.
AFS, MODERN CASTING and MetalcastingDesign.com groups have been created on both Facebook and LinkedIn social networking sites. You do not have be a member of the social networking websites to view these profiles, but to join the groups and start communicating you must join. To do so, click on the link(s) below, click the sign up button on each website and enter your information. Once you have signed up, you can join any of the three groups.
The links to the AFS, MODERN CASTING and MetalcastingDesign.com social networking groups are:
AFS
http://www.afsinc.org/facebook
http://www.afsinc.org/linkedin
MODERN CASTING
http://www.moderncasting.com/facebook
http://www.moderncasting.com/linkedin
MetalcastingDesign.com
http://www.metalcastingdesign.com/facebook
http://www.metalcastingdesign.com/linkedin
You also may visit any of these social network groups via the AFS, MODERN CASTING or MetalcastingDesign.com websites by clicking on the appropriate link under the social networking heading. For more information, contact Dave Krugman, AFS pr and marketing coordinator, at dkrugman@afsinc.org or 800/537-4237 x 286.
AFS Northwest Regional Conference Focuses on Technology
The AFS Northwest Regional Conference will be held March 19-21 at the Red Lion Hotel, Seattle. The theme for this year's event is "Technology, the Key to Our Future."
Preconference events include Ergonomics for Plant & Office Personnel, the Metalcasting Solutions Seminar and Building an Effective Leadership Model for Your Foundry.
Conference presentations will include "U.S. Metalcasting: Competing in a Global Economy," Alfred Spada, AFS, "How Lean is Your Design Process," Henrik Barth, NovaCast, "Appropriate Technology for the Job Shop," Barry Ramsay, D8 and "Marketing and Selling Castings in the Internet Age," Leo Baran, AFS.
Plant tours of Woodland Pattern, Thomas Machine & Foundry, NorthStar Casteel, Pacific Grinding Wheel/Bates Abrasives, Travis Industries, D&L Foundry and Pentz Design also will be included at this year's event.
For more information, or to register for the AFS Northwest Regional Conference, visit http://www.wa-afs.com.
Find Materials, Equipment and Services Via Online Buyer's Guide
MODERN CASTING magazine has put the compendium of information available in its annual Buyer's Guide up on the internet, so you can find the materials, equipment and services you need to improve your metalcasting business without leaving your office.
The new guide, available at buyersguide.moderncasting.com, includes all of the suppliers in each of the product categories presented in the print edition of the resource. But with this interactive application, you can search through the data to find the products you need by directly selecting a product category, entering a suppliers' name or location, or choosing from a list of supplier names.
The online guide, which is constantly kept up to date by the suppliers themselves, also can be accessed through the AFS website (www.afsinc.org) or MODERN CASTING site (www.moderncasting.com). Check out the new Buyer's Guide today, and go shopping for a better business.
CMI Offers Casting Cost Estimating Internet Course
CMI will be offering a Casting Cost Estimating internet course March 2-29. The intent of this online course is to educate students on the basics of predicting job costs using example jobs. Estimates based on blueprints will be presented, along with methods for determining cost centers, ideas for assigning standard costs and industrial engineering's role in estimating. Students will review sample estimates using a form created during the lectures.
For more information or to attend this course, contact AFS customer service at 800/537-4237, or click here to register.
Practical Green Sand Control Course Coming
CMI will be offering a Practical Green Sand Control course March 3-5 at AFS Headquarters, Schaumburg, Ill. Topics covered in this course include the basic components of a green sand system, mixing and mulling, sand compaction methods, and controlling a green sand system. In addition, sand test results, what tests to run and testing frequency and casting defects will be discussed.
For more information or to attend this course, contact AFS customer service at 800/537-4237, or click here to register.
